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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about Kelton (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.

As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Kelton. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.

Neighboring Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Kelton is located in Union County.

To see how the shape of South Carolina's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Union County: Cherokee, Chester, Fairfield, Laurens, Newberry, Spartanburg & York.

Below are the counties that are near Kelton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Kelton:

  • Union County     (The home county of Kelton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kelton, with the one closest to Kelton listed first.
    • Kelly
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Kelly is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
    • Bailey Town ‑ Historic
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Bailey Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Town
    • Bonham
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Bonham is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonham
    • Jonesville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Lockhart
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Union
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Buffalo
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Meador ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Meador is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meador
    • Bishop Town ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Bishop Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop Town
    • Colerain
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Colerain is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
    • Red Town ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Red Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Town
    • Carlisle
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
  • Cherokee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kelton, with the one closest to Kelton listed first.
    • East Gaffney
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • East Gaffney is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gaffney
    • Gaffney
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Kings Creek
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Macedonia
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Macedonia is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
    • Blacksburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Chesnee
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Chester County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kelton, with the one closest to Kelton listed first.
    • Cabal
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Cabal is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cabal
    • Lowrys
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Lowrys is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowrys
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
    • Gayle Mill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Gayle Mill is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gayle Mill
    • Chester
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Eureka Mill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Eureka Mill is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka Mill
    • Smith
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Smith is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith
    • Cornwell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Cornwell is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornwell
    • Blackstock
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Fairfield County
  • Laurens County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kelton, with the one closest to Kelton listed first.
    • Tylersville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Tylersville is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
    • Renno
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Renno is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renno
    • Dover ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Dover is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
    • Clinton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Newberry County
    • Whitmire
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
  • Spartanburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kelton, with the one closest to Kelton listed first.
    • Central Pacolet
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Central Pacolet is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Pacolet
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
    • Pacolet Mills
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Pacolet
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Pacolet is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pacolet
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,604 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pacolet <1>
    • White Stone
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Clifton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Glendale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Camp Croft
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Camp Croft is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Croft
    • Pauline
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Cowpens
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Cowpens is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowpens
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,465 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cowpens <1>
    • Converse
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Zion Hill
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Zion Hill is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion Hill
    • Cross Anchor
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
  • York County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kelton, with the one closest to Kelton listed first.
    • Hopewell
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Hopewell is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
    • Hickory Grove
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Blairsville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Blairsville is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsville
    • Sharon
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Smyrna
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • McConnells
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • York
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Filbert
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Filbert is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Filbert
    • Zadok ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Zadok is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zadok
    • Clover
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Newport
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Newport is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
    • Bowling Green
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Cleveland County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kelton, with the one closest to Kelton listed first.
    • Erwinsville ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Erwinsville is located in Cleveland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erwinsville
    • Grover
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Grover is located in Cleveland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grover
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 709 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Grover <1>
    • Earl
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Earl is located in Cleveland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earl
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 261 people
    • Flint Hill ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Flint Hill is located in Cleveland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint Hill
    • Patterson Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Patterson Springs is located in Cleveland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson Springs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 628 people
    • Byersville ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Byersville is located in Cleveland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byersville
    • Durbro ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Durbro is located in Cleveland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durbro
    • Elbethel ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Elbethel is located in Cleveland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elbethel
    • Pleasant Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Pleasant Hill is located in Cleveland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
    • Sharon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Sharon is located in Cleveland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
    • Boiling Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Brittain Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Brittain Village is located in Cleveland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brittain Village

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Kelton, see our County-by-County Page for Kelton.

Cemeteries Near Kelton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Kelton.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Kelton - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Kelton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Kelton, with the one closest to Kelton listed first.

  • Porter Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Foster Chapel Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Mt. Joy Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • McKissick Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Going Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Hames - Gault Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Kelly Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Bethlehem Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Gallman Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Haney Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Free Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (378 more) ...
    • Flat Rock Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Wood Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Askew Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Kelton had a post office and no railroad service.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Kelton, with the one closest to Kelton listed first.

  • Bonham
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Bonham is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonham
  • Jonesville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Gould ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Gould is located in York County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
  • Union
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Cotton ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Cotton is located in York County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton
  • Bullock Creek
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Bullock Creek is located in York County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullock Creek
  • Hopewell
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Hopewell is located in York County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
  • Meador ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Meador is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meador
  • Hoodtown
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Hoodtown is located in York County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoodtown
  • Pacolet
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Pacolet is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pacolet
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,604 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pacolet <1>
  • West Springs
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • West Springs is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Springs
  • Wilksburg
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Wilksburg is located in Chester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilksburg
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Hickory Grove
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Colerain
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Colerain is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
    • Santuc
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Santuc is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santuc

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Kelton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Kelton.

Newspapers Published in Kelton ...

An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.

Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 20 newspapers that have been published in the area around Kelton.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Kelton, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Kelton.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Kelton:

Footnotes ...

<1>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<2>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Kelton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Kelton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.